This 1975/6 album founded and gave the P-Funk genre its name, featuring George Clinton, Bootsy and co at their most creative and sapced out funky.Supported by Bernie Worrell on surreal keyboards, Fred Wesley, Maceo Parker, Michael and Randy Brecker and Joe Farrell on horny horns, Bootsy’s striding bass with background vocals by Soulsters Inc Taka Khan (boom), Debra Wright and Sidney Barnes, the complete sound was unprecedented and fantastic. The album not only appealed to Clinton’s underground audience, but right across the board and was a massive Soul and Pop Chart hit, and founded a new movement. ‘P-Funk’ with its...
Headhunters bassist Paul Jackson recorded his solo album Black Octopus in Japan in 1978 during a tour. Paul is joined by a stellar cast of musicians including Headhunters members and regular associates, Herbie Hancock, Webster Lewis, Alphonse Mouzon, Bennie Maupin and Ray Obeido. 'Funk Times Three' is a very funky Jazz Funk instrumental cut that really builds to a crescendo with all players jamming to the groove. ‘Black Octopus part 2,’ ‘Eight ways of love' and ‘Tiptoe Through The Ghetto’ feature Jackson on vocals and are mid tempo Funk grooves. Black Octopus part 1 Many Directions is a slightly edgy...
Most of you will by now be well of Yussef Dayes and his contribution to UK Jazz. Blasting onto the scene with the highly regarded albeit short lived Yussef Kamaal, he is know stranger to making an impact on a large scale. Since then he has been seen to work with follow South-Londoner Tom Misch on the chart hitting album ‘What Kinda Music’, as well as a talented crew of musicians all included in his endeavour as an independent artist. This album marks his debut studio album in that capacity and right from the beginning it is clear that this...
The Mixed Bag First Album was recorded in the HDH studios in Detroit in 1975, and released on the Tribe label. It features Eddie Russ on keyboards under the pseudonym Gaff Dunsun, most of the band had played on his debut album 'Fresh Out' a year earlier. It contains the original version of his classic 'Ziaus' this take being more acoustic and straight ahead than the better known version on 'See The Light' but still a shifter and good track. ' La Margarita' is a highly percussive Latin tinged Jazz dancer also written by Russ, who plays quirky keyboards with...
There is a lot to be said for staying true to your sound, something that features heavily in Matthew Halsall’s ninth studio album ‘An Ever Changing View’. Consisting of ten tracks, the album is a rich tapestry of sonic interplay composed from bits of percussion, samples and loops and of course Halsall’s inimitable tone on trumpet. Like much of his work, this album clearly draws influence from the natural world, with the opening tune sampling bits of birdsong and tracks like ‘Mountains, Trees and Seas’ featuring a gentle Rhodes piano sound under steady beat. Halsall’s trumpet playing is melodic and...
Right from the opening bars it is obvious that Marvin Gaye's classic 'Whats Going On' album has been a massive influence on Jalen Ngonda. He has created a modern day classic soul album 'Come Around And Love Me' which whilst contemporary like Durand Jones sounds like it could have been recorded 50 years or more ago. Jalen even sounds a little like Marvin and he has a really soulful voice, but it is the instrumentation and production that really gives this album its aura. 'Come Around And Love Me' is a superb upper mid tempo track that has all the...
Tenderlonious has made many solo albums and with his group Ruby Rushton on his 22a label over the past decade. His latest album. one of his Jazziest, 'You Know I Care' sees him playing with a quartet, covers of Spiritual Jazz compositions. He plays Alto Saxophones and Flute and is accompanied by Hamish Balfour on piano, Pete Martin on Bass and Tim Carnegie on Drums, who all play beautifully throughout. 'On The Nile' written by Charles Tolliver is a beautiful modal/spiritual jazz track that takes you on a journey, conjuring images of the great African River. Stanley Cowell's 'Maimoun' is another...
Dexter Wansel recorded his epic debut album 'Life On Mars' at Sigma Sounds for Philadelphia International in 1976. Dexter features on Keyboards, ARP and Synthesizers and is backed by great musicians and MFSB strings and horns to create an amazing sound. 'Life On Mars' inspired by the David Bowie song some years earlier, had a completely different sound in its time and was an instant underground dancefloor hit. It has remained one of the most sought after anthems from the early Jazz-Funk period, that has retained its freshness and has been appreciated by many generations. The drum beat from 'Theme From The...
Gil Scott Heron performed in Europe with his Amensia Express many times in the 1980s. This performance from 1983 was recorded by Radio Bremen was very unique because bass player Robbie Gordon missed the flight from London, so guitarist Ed Brady switched to bass. Due to lack of rehearsal time Gil performed a couple of tracks solo singing and playing piano giving a very intimate performance on 'We Almost Lost Detroit' and Angola Lousina'.The band join for the rest of the songs which includes 'Winter In America', 'Legend In His Own Mind', 'Washington Dc' , and very long renditions of...
Carmen Lundy has established herself as one of the best female Jazz vocalists with a succession of great albums over nearly 40 years. On her latest 'Fade To Black' , Carmen sings, plays keyboards and guitar, percussion and arranges the horns over 11 self composed songs, illustrating why she is held in such high esteem. As ever she is accompanied by some great musicians especially Julius Rodriguez on piano, Andrew Renfroe on guitar, her brother Curtis Lundy on bass and Wallace Rooney on trumpet, but it is always her vocals that captivate, as she tells stories of life experiences...
